TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The arrest of Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) officer Novel Baswedan at dawn on Friday two weeks ago led to a major controversy. The National Police Crime Investigation division who arrested him is seen to have acted excessively, as if Novel was a suspect of terrorism. But according to Insp. Gen. Anton Charliyan, chief of the Police Public Relations, no procedures were violated in the arrest. "There's also no link to the case of Pak Budi Gunawan," Charliyan told Tempo reporters Jobpie Sugiharto and Rusman Paraqbueq, in an interview in his office, last week.
Why was Novel arrested?
Because he failed twice to show up after he was summoned.
Is there a more important reason?
The deadline to solve this case is only seven more months before the court's verdict.
Why must the arrest be carried out at night?
According to law, arrests are not required to be at night or daytime. Standard procedures apply. This case is like a slap in one own's face, because it's been committeed by a member of the police force. Novel at that time was a policeman. That was a dark time.
But this looks more like an act of criminalizing.
If it was a manipulation, I will be the first to defend Novel Baswedan. I don't want anyone to be abused, particularly a fellow police officer.
But the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) had asked the Police to delay investigations?
We heard that. The reason given was that Novel was carrying out state duties. That is not a logical and legal excuse. In that case, anyone can be immune to the law. The press is also doing state duty, everyone has their duty to do for the state. No one is above the law.
Why wasn't Novel's attorney allowed to be present during the investigation and the reconstruction?
The accused refused to be questioned with the excuse that his lawyer must be present, but his lawyer said he was waiting for another because he hadn't been officially appointed. He can lodge a complaint about this.
Why were items unconnected with the case confiscated by the Police?
Perhaps it was carried together unintentionally. If we find them to be irrelevant, we will return them. But cellphones can be used to communicate with someone connected to the case.
What is the point of seeking information about Novel's work at the KPK?
The KPK said all data about his work are in the office.
Was the person who reported the crime a police member?
The lawyer filed a written complaint to the police in 2012. Then officers who received it, made their own report. I once wrote a report on Munir's murder based on news from the media. Just ask the lawyer of the victim whether he was pressured by the police. But he did report it during an inappropriate time.
But this looks so suspiciously manufactured.
You're welcome to prove it.
Why wasn't this explanation offered back in 2012?
Because conditions were different then. At that time, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono asked that the charges be dropped, not the case be delayed. That's different.
Is it because because Budi Gunawan was indicted by the KPK?
It has nothing to do with it. It's because the time left for its deadline is seven months, but it seems the timing is bad.
President Joko Widodo has asked that all criminalization against the KPK be stopped.
Pak Jokowi's view is the same as Pak Jusuf Kalla's, in that the charges be transparent. Pak Jokowi also said to continue with the investigation but not to make a big commotion about it.
The Police Crime Investigation Division said Novel has four luxury homes. How did they get that information?
That information needs to be clarified. There are two homes in Kelapa Gading, one in Cempaka Putih and one in Cilandak. We cannot confirm them yet, however. According to the office of state assets, Novel owns two homes, one in Kelapa Gading and one in Semarang. He could own the others but not under his own name. (*)